UNO Campus Prepares for Privateer Plunge

“It’s basically extended welcome-week programming,” said Dale O’Neill, coordinator
of leadership and community service programs in UNO’s Office of Leadership and Student
Involvement. “It’s six weeks. It’s full of events, workshops. They can be student
organization-related, student involvement-related, social and cultural activities
or career-related.”

Privateer Plunge, a joint effort of the Division of Student Affairs and the Office
of Admissions, provides new students a variety of opportunities to understand available
resources and to meet UNO students, faculty and administrators. The six-week orientation
challenge for new students is divided into four tracks – blue, silver, red and green
– representing academic opportunities and traditions; social and cultural events and
opportunities; health, wellness and personal development, and community service and
leadership.

New students are expected to attend at least 12 events, three in each category, within
the first six weeks at UNO, said Christy Heaton, associate director for orientation
and first-year student success. A guide to the Privateer Plunge shows a color splash
next to each scheduled event to indicate the proper category.

Heaton, who works in the Office of Admissions, created the event last year together
with O’Neill. The pair meets once a week throughout the year to plan the fun.

This year, the organizers will provide awards to students who have attended the most
events at Privateer Plunge. The prizes bring big incentive to participate: a 50 percent
reduction in spring tuition; two tickets to a New Orleans Saints football game; vouchers
that can be used in the UNO bookstore and upgraded campus parking, Heaton said. Events
have been scheduled at varying times throughout the day to include adult freshmen
and transfer students.

The Privateer Plunge is “not just fun and games,” she said. The six weeks includes
academic success workshops, counseling career workshops and events hosted by academic
departments and UNO’s five colleges.

“It’s good for the students but it’s also good for the departments who participate,”
said Heaton. “Research shows that the first six weeks [at a new university is the
best time for campus leaders] to help freshmen get incentive to form a new community
and be a part of the new UNO community…making friends, meeting administrators, feeling
like they are UNO Privateers. We want them to meet friends at UNO and feel like they
have a place on campus.”

Students who attended last year’s Privateer Plunge reported that the six-week welcome
introduced them to resources that they did not know were available, she said. Had
they not attended said events, the new students may not have known where to pursue
critical or helpful resources. Counseling and Career Services saw increased attendance
from previous years, after participating in Privateer Plunge, Heaton said.

The six weeks of excitement begins Thursday, Aug. 16 with Freshman Move-In Day and
includes banner social events including the Blackout Party on Friday, Aug. 17, Welcome
Back Luau on Thursday, Aug. 23, a Student Activities Council meeting on Monday, Aug.
27, and Swampball on Monday, Sept. 22.